Shoe-form.



No. 870,064. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

H. A. WEEKS.

SHOE PIORM.

APPLIOATIOH IILED JUNE 'IL IBO'I.

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HORACE A. WEEKS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR. TO A. E. LITTLE & COMPANY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A FIRM..

SHOE-FORM.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed June 11. 1907- Serial No. 378,335.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HORACE A. WEEKS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an improvement in Shoe-Forms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel, strong and efficient shoe-form which is readily adjustable longitudinally and in which the fore part and the heel part are connected by a hinge or pivot device whereby the heel part may be tipped relatively to the fore part.

A shoe-form made in accordance with my invention is particularly adapted for use in keeping a shoe in shape when not in use, and its construction and operation is such that it may be readily and quickly placed in or withdrawn from the shoe.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of a shoe form embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the adjustable pivotal or hinge connection between the heel part and the fore part; Fig. 3 is a right hand end elevation of the socket memberof such connection; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the socket member on the line 4'i, Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 the heel part H and fore part F of the shoe form are of usual character, and in accordance with the present embodiment of my invention I bore a hole in the face of the heel part to receive the substantially tubular shank a of a socket member a,

3 5 having opposite laterally extended lugs 0.

Straight and parallel guide pins a are adapted to enter and slide easily in holes f, Fig. l, of suitable diameter and length bored in the fore part at opposite sides of a central and larger hole f, the outer ends of the pins having eyes a into which the lugs a enter, forming a pivotal connection between said pins and the socket member a. Said member and its shank a are herein shown as slotted longitudinally at a the slot extending completely through the front end of the member, and in the opposite walls of the slot depressions a are formed constituting a ball-receiving socket, the depressions extending from the bottom of the slot rearward and upward, see Fig. 4, and having a circular entrance or mouth a Fig. 2.

A coupling member 0, shown as threaded and provided with an annular enlargement or thumb-piece t", is screwed into an internally threaded bushing b which is forced into the hole f in the fore-part F, Fig. l.

The coupling member or screw 0 is prolonged at 0 beyond the thumb-piece and terminates in a ball-like head 0 see Fig. 2, of such diameter that it will readily pass through the mouth a and thence to the ball-receiving socket in the member a, as shown, the prolongation c entering freely the slot (1 at the forward end of the socket member. When the coupling is thus connected with said member it may be rotated relatively thereto or the socket member may be tipped or rocked in a fore and aft direction upon the head 0 as will be manifest.

The socket member having been rigidly secured in the heel part the guide pins a are mounted on the lugs a and their free ends inserted in the holes f in the fore part F, the bushing 17 having previously been driven tightly into the hole f. Now the coupling or screw 0 is applied by inserting its head in the socket 7 O of the socket member, as previously described, after which the threaded end is inserted in the bushing b and the coupling is turned to screw it into said bushing. The farther in it is screwed the nearer together will the heel part and fore part of the shoe form be drawn, and vice versa, thereby effecting longitudinal adjustment of the form according to the length of the shoe with which it is to be used. In use the fore part is inserted in the shoe and then the heel part, and by means of the thumb-piece c the form is elongated to apply the desired pressure or stretch to the shoe. As the heel part can swing or pivot relatively to the fore part on the lugs 11 as a center the insertion or removal of the form is facilitated, and as the part c of the coupling cooperates with the bottom of the slot a in the socket member a the downward swing of the heel .part is thereby limited, so that the heel part cannot drop below the position shown in Fig. 1.

I The swivel connection between the socket member and the coupling 0, attained by the ball and socket attachment, enables the coupling to be rotated for adjustment longitudinally of the shoe form, as well as permits the pivotal or hinge movement of the heel part and fore part, as will be manifest.

So long as the coupling maintains its threaded connection with the fore part, by the bushing b as herein shown, the heel part and fore part cannot become separated, and the guide pins a cooperating with the fore part restrain the latter from any rotative movement relative to the heel part.

The socket memb'er, coupling or adjusting screw, and the bushing may be readily made as castings, and

can be produced at small cost.

connected with said lugs and longitudinally slidable in the fore part, and a coupling having a threaded connection with the fore part and a pivotal and rotatable connection with the socket member independent of the connection between the lugs and guide pins, said coupling being pro vided with a thumb-piece.

2. A shoe-form comprising a fore part and a heel part, a longitudinally-slotted member having a ball-socket and rigidly conected with the heel part, parallel guide pins pivotally connected with said member and longitudi nally slidable in the fore part, and a coupling having a threaded connection with the fore part, and provided with a ball to enter the slotted member and swivel in the socket therein, said coupling having an annular enlargement by which it may be rotated.

3. A shoeform comprising a fore part and a heel part, a longitudinally slotted socket member having a tubular shank fixedly inserted in the heel part and provided with a ball socket in the opposite Walls of the slot, opposite lugs on said member, guide pins longitudinally slidable in the fore part and having eyes to receive the lugs, to pivotally connect the pins and the socket member, and an adjusting screw having a threaded connection with the fore part and at its rear end provided with a ball-like head to rotatably enter the socket of the socket member, and also adapted to rock therein when the heel part is tipped relatively to the fore part.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HORACE Av WEEKS. Witnesses L. J. Ronmsox, FREDERIC N. BASSETT. 

